History Extra podcast

The History Extra podcast brings you gripping stories from the past and fascinating historical conversations with the world's leading historical experts.


Produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine, History Extra is a free history podcast, with episodes released six times a week. Subscribe now for the real stories behind your favourite films, TV shows and period dramas, as well as compelling insights into lesser-known aspects of the past. 

 

We delve into global history stories spanning the ancient world right up to the modern day. You’ll hear deep dives into the lives of famous historical figures like Cleopatra, Anne Boleyn and Winston Churchill, and explorations of intriguing events from the past, such as the Salem witch trials, the battle of Waterloo and D-Day. 

 

Expect fresh takes on history, helping you get to grips with the latest research, as we explore everything from ancient Roman archaeology and Viking mythology to Renaissance royals and Tudor kings and queens. 

 

Our episodes touch on a wide range of historical eras – from the Normans and Saxons to the Stuarts, Victorians and the Regency period. We cover the most popular historical subjects, from the medieval world to the Second World War, but you’ll also hear conversations on lesser-known parts of our past, including black history and women’s history. 

 

Looking at the history behind today’s headlines, we consider the forces that have shaped today’s world, from the imposing empires that dominated continents, to the revolutions that brought them crashing down. We also examine the impact of conflict across the centuries, from the crusades of the Middle Ages and the battles of the ancient Egyptians to World War One, World War Two and the Cold War.  

 

Plus, we uncover the real history behind myths, legends and conspiracy theories, from the medieval murder mystery of the Princes in the Tower, to the assassination of JFK.  

 

Featuring interviews with notable historians including Mary Beard, Tracy Borman, James Holland and Dan Jones, we cover a range of social, political and military history, with the aim to start conversations about some of the most fascinating areas of the past. 

Unlock full access to HistoryExtra.com for 6 months for just 99p https://www.historyextra.com/join/

History
101
Sex and Christianity: 2,000 years of love and fury
Diarmaid MacCulloch delves into the complex, contradictory and endlessly fascinating history of Christian attitudes to sex
32 min
102
Catherine the Great: life of the week
Janet Hartley details the extraordinary life and reign of one of history's most powerful rulers – from her origins as an obscure German princess to her transformation of Russia into one of Europe's great powers
33 min
103
The Second Norman Conquest
Sophie Ambler and Fiona Edmonds reveal how William Rufus led a second Norman Conquest in Cumbria, several decades after 1066
42 min
104
The Carolingians: everything you wanted to know
Professor Matthew Gabriele answers all the big questions about the early medieval empire that stretched across much of Europe – and takes a closer look at its ruling dynasty
35 min
105
The SAS in WW2: everything you wanted to know
Joshua Levine tackles listener questions about the origins of Britain’s most famous special forces unit
41 min
106
Arnhem: 24 hours that shattered Allied dreams
Al Murray reveals why, in one disastrous day, the Allied plan to deliver a shattering blow to Nazi Germany collapsed in a heap
27 min
107
Tudor England | 5. The wider world
Tracy Borman circumnavigates the 16th-century globe, exploring Tudor England’s position within it
33 min
108
2024 in review: history behind the headlines
Hannah Skoda and Rana Mitter look back at the history behind some of the year's biggest news stories in this special episode of our monthly series
38 min
109
Shipwrecks: a porthole to the past
David Gibbins explores the underwater secrets held by the world's shipwrecks
46 min
110
Quaker history: everything you wanted to know
Ben Pink Dandelion answers listener questions on the history of the Quaker religious movement
37 min
111
Christmas history: everything you wanted to know
Did Oliver Cromwell ban mince pies? And why does Santa wear red? George Goodwin responds to listener questions on festive history
42 min
112
How convict labour forged empires
Clare Anderson dives into lesser-known aspects of the history of convict transportation, revealing more about how the labour of those transported shaped empires
33 min
113
Tudor England | 4. Religion and superstition
From the Reformation to witchcraft, Tracy Borman delves into Tudor religion and superstitious belief
43 min
114
Secrets of medieval churches
Stonemason Andrew Ziminski reveals how medieval churches may have originally looked and why they are so full of oddities
20 min
115
Isabella of Castile: life of the week
Giles Tremlett explores the life and history-altering reign of the woman who helped launch the Spanish Inquisition and financed Columbus' journey to the 'New World'
40 min
116
The massacre that shattered the old Ottoman world
Eugene Rogan discusses a watershed moment in the modern history of the Middle East
37 min
117
Underwear history: everything you wanted to know
Dr Serena Dyer briefs us on the history of underwear – from bras and knickers, to G-strings, bloomers and codpieces
34 min
118
Medieval relic hunters: the quest for Notre-Dam...
From intrepid friars to glorious processions, Emily Guerry explores the story of how the crown of thorns ended up in Notre Dame in the Middle Ages
34 min
119
Tudor England | 3. Culture and innovation
Tracy Borman checks out the fashion, food, theatre and festivals of Tudor England
46 min
120
Tempting treats & festive feats: christmas shop...
Annie Gray journeys through the history of christmas shopping in Britain, from department store stunts to the must-have items for the dinner table
33 min
121
Robert the Bruce: life of the week
Fiona Watson explores the shadowy rise to power of a national hero
48 min
122
Germany's postwar reinvention
Frank Trentmann discusses Germany's astonishing 80-year transformation in the era following the Second World War
40 min
123
Robot history: everything you wanted to know
Kerry McInerney answers your questions on the history of robots – from ancient Greece to the age of AI
31 min
124
Britain's wild republican decade
Alice Hunt explores the extraordinary period when the monarchy was abolished - and replaced by a republic
33 min
125
Tudor England | 2. Daily life
Tracy Borman takes a closer look at daily life on the streets of Tudor England – from home and hearth to health and medicine
36 min